Cobra cb quality

[sloop]

Just wondering, has the quality of new Cobra CB's improved any? I bought a 25nwwxst about a year ago and the night watch panel lasted about 6 months! Found out later that this was a common problem. I don't really care about the night watch but when that went out so did some of the channel display and the quality of the receiver. I really liked the weather warn function but not at the expense of the poor quality CB. Any ideas?

 

[jodoak]

When I bought my first Cobra CB Radio back in 1978 I thought they were the best radios going. I got out of the CB radio hobby for several decades. Finally got back into the CB radio about a year ago and bought the Cobra 29 LX 40. Ran it for several months and then also purchased the Uniden Bearcat 980 SSB and found this radio to be heads and shoulders above the Cobra. Now the Cobra sits in a box and the Bearcat sits in my truck.

Bearcat reaches further, better audio quality and I just like it better.

 

[geoffwhite18]

cobras are junk. sorry to say.

 

[k8krh]

COBRA went down hill a number of years ago. I would stay away from them. I would pick up a UNIDEN 980, they are under $100 and are stable and no complaints from here.
DOCTOR/795

 

[redneckcellphone]

I have a cobra 29nwwxst in my vehicle and for my base i use the uniden 980ssb. The cobra has horrible receive on the weather frequencies. The 980 i paired with unidens wireless microphone and get compliments on how good the audio is. And the weather is 100x better

 

[XTS3000]

cobras are junk. sorry to say.

Agreed! Many years ago most Cobra CB's were manufactured by Uniden. The quality was good. Then cobra went to Maxon to manufacture their radios. That's when the quality dropped down to the point that Cobra CB radios are nothing but trash.

Years ago Cobra wanted their Cobra 29 to be continued to be manufactured using their original 30 year old design. Uniden said NO! So Cobra sourced Maxon to manufacture their radios using the original design. That's when the quality went to crap.

Even tho Maxon is using the original design, they are using cheap components which is why their radios are trash now.

 

[geoffwhite18]

I drive truck and use a cobra 29ltd black chrome edition. Trust me it is absolute junk. I haven't seen any that aren't. Any new ones anyway, mine is heavily modified and some of the internals have been replaced, which makes it bearable, but the quality is just not there, and it isn't something that is easily fixed. You would be much better off with something like a connex.

 

[mrweather]

I would pick up a UNIDEN 980, they are under $100 and are stable and no complaints from here.
DOCTOR/795

Too bad new 980's go for $200 up here in Canada.

 

[sloop]

Thanks for the comments everyone. Just wanted to make sure that it was the Cobra brand and not just one lemon radio. Uniden it will be.

 

[KC4RAF]

I have the Cobra 2000 and the 148.

But these were bought back in the very early 90s and still manufactured by Uniden (IIRC). They are both great CBs. Haven't used them in a coon's age though. Also have heard from others here in central Florida that the Cobras are junk now. It's a shame, they were outstanding transceivers in their days.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

I have a 25 LTD that's about 5 years old. After I acquired it I took it to a local two-way shop and had the receiver aligned. It actually did pretty well after that.

 

[RedAvenger]

Last Saturday, I picked up a Cobra 29 LTD classic for 5 bucks. It was made November of 2005. It works great and my K 30 really puts out a decent signal. At this point, I am not worried about what it CANT do, and am pleased with what it can. Call it entry level, and I an having fun.

 

[DJboutit]

If you want to get a new radio get a Uniden PC787

https://www.bellscb.com/products/cbradios/uniden/Uniden_PC-787.htm

If you get one from this shop get it with a tune up

 

[XTS3000]

Cobra radios used to be made by Uniden. The quality was excellent. Cobra and Uniden split ties many years ago and now cobra radios are made by Maxon.

Maxon can make pure trash radios and also make very high quality radios. Cobra told Maxon to make their radios as cheap as possible, and now Cobras are basically trash nowadays.

Uniden wanted to take the 30+ year old Cobra 29 design/layout and make it more modular and more reliable. Cobra didn't want that, so Uniden told them to find someone else to make their radios. That's when Maxon starting to build the crummy radios. That's when the quality went down hill fast.

Cobra doesn't build any of their products, they just farm out production to the cheapest manufacturer.

The only radio I know of that long ago was not built by Uniden was the 138XLR which was made by Browning.